Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-breasted Sapsucker
Scientific name:	Sphyrapicus ruber
Date:	10/13/2018
Time:	Approx. 3 p.m.
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Lytle Ranch Preserve
County:	Washington
Latilong:	(37.1434192,-114.0232372
Elevation:	2800 ft.
Distance to bird:	15-25 feet
Optical equipment:	Nikon D-500 with 200-500mm zoom; Swarovski 10x42 bins
Weather:	sunny, light breeze, temp approx. 75 deg F.
Light Conditions:	bright direct sun; deep shade in shadows of fruit orchard.
Description: Size of bird:	Estimated 8"
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Woodpecker
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Red head, dark body, with white wing-stripe
(Description:) Bill Type:	Stout, pointed, black bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	First noticed woodpecker-like bird on trunk and larger limbs of fruit tree. Dark body and white wing stripe characteristic of sapsuckers was first field mark, then mostly red head and breast signaled Red-breasted sapsucker, a species we see nearly daily in summer at our home in Juneau, Alaska. We had seen Red-naped sapsucker earlier in the afternoon, with its red nape, top of head, and upper breast. This bird, however, showed no black on the central breast, lacked the continuous white line from bill to breast, and lacked the black eye stripe and black border to the red chin and upper breast. Careful scrutiny of the photos does seem to show a few white feathers below and behind the eye, as well as a few dark feathers just in front of them, however, these pale in comparison to the striping on Red-naped. The bold white mark between the base of the bill extending back under the eye is consistent with Red-breasted. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Not heard except for occasional soft drumming.
Behavior:	Feeding quietly from sap wells in fruit trees.
Habitat:	Deciduous fruit orchard
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-naped was eliminated as described above. Yellow-bellied is similarly eliminated due to its continuous white and black borders on head and breast and the great disparity in the amount of red on the head.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	As noted above, we see Red-breasted sapsucker nearly daily in the spring and summer at our home in Juneau, Alaska, and have recorded it in California, Oregon, and Washington. We are less familiar with red-naped and yellow-bellied, but have recorded red-naped 11 times in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
References consulted:	Sibley's
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	John A. Doty
Observer's address:	3866 Seaview Ave., Juneau, AK 99801
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Max Malmquist; Mike Malmquist
Date prepared:	11/20/2018
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: